Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHA441188’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHA441188’, particularly characterized by having purplish-pink striped flowers with reddish-purple lips, flowers that are flat in lateral view, and whiskers that are reddish-purple and striped with white tips, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHA441188’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHA441188’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with attractive purplish-pink striped flowers with reddish-purple lips suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHA441188’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in June 2014 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘PHALLOEL’ (EU Certificate No. EU21604), with a proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘40427-04’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, in April 2017. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2018 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Community Plant Variety Rights for this variety have been applied for in the European Union on Sep. 14, 2021 (Application No. 2021/2255), by Applicant who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly from the inventor. ‘PHA441188’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this application with the exception of sales or disclosures made one year or less before the effective filing date of this claimed invention by Applicant who obtained ‘PHA441188’ directly from the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, and can be used to distinguish ‘PHA441188’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1) Purplish-pink striped flowers with reddish-purple lips;     -   2) Flower shape in lateral view is flat; and     -   3) Whiskers are reddish-purple and striped with white tips.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, from 50-week-old plants in April 2022. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, and foliage of ‘PHA441188’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHA441188’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up, overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHA441188’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHA441188’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were detelinined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in April 2022 on flowering plants which were planted in 12-centimeter (diameter) pots. After in vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for 20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12-centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50 weeks in 12-centimeter pots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHA441188’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘PHALLOEL’.         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘40427-04’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green (a color in between RHS 190B             and RHS 190C) colored roots with branching lateral roots             having yellow-green (RHS N144D) with a touch of purplish-red             (RHS N77B) colored root tips. -   Plant:     -   -   Crop time to flowering.—Following asexual propagation (in             vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24 weeks. After             transplantation into 12-cm pots, the plants are finished             after 48 to 50 weeks.         -   Growth habit of the peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendent             with panicle inflorescence.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 56.0 cm to 61.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 38.0 cm to 40.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Strong. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 8 to 9 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 22.0 cm             to 24.0 cm. Width: 8.5 cm to 9.5 cm. Position of the             broadest part of the leaf: At the middle. Shape: Oblong.             Base shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse, slightly             asymmetric. Leaf blade angle with the petiole (measured from             the horizontal position): Between 25 degrees and 40 degrees.             Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146B. Lower             surface: RHS 146C. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces):             Smooth. Thickness: 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Variegation: Absent.             Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper             surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 146C. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—2 to 4.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—15 to 20.         -   Length.—56.0 cm to 61.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—7.0 mm to 8.0 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendent.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of brown (RHS 200B) and yellow-green (RHS 146C).         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendent, panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Number of inflorescences.—2 to 4.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 300.0 mm to             400.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12-cm pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 80.0 mm to 85.0 mm. Diameter: 90.0 mm to             95.0 mm. Depth of lip: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm.         -   Flower shape.—Flat.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 9 to 11 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm.             Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color:             Reddish-purple (RHS N79D) with dark purplish-red shade (RHS             N79C).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Emarginated asymmetric. Margin: Moderately undulated. Length             (from base to tip): 42.0 mm to 44.0 mm. Width: 54.0 mm to             56.0 mm. Position of the broadest part of the petal: Toward             the base. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic             color: Purplish-pink (RHS N78C). Over color: Reddish-purple             (RHS N78B) shade and stripes. Lower surface: Basic color:             Light reddish-purple (RHS N78D). Over color: Purplish-pink             (RHS N78C) shade and stripes. Number of spots, dots, and             stripes on the petals (upper surface): Many stripes. Color             of spots, dots, and stripes on the petals (upper surface):             RHS N78B. Density of netting of the petals (upper surface):             None. Color of the netting (upper surface): None.         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Emarginated symmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 45.0 mm to             47.0 mm. Width: 32.0 mm to 34.0 mm. Position of the broadest             part of the dorsal sepals: Toward the base. Color (when             fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purplish-pink             (RHS N78C). Over color: Reddish-purple (RHS N78B) shade,             stripes, and netting. Lower surface: Basic color: Light             reddish-purple (RHS N78D). Over color: Reddish-purple (RHS             N78B) shade and netting. Number of spots, dots, and stripes             on the dorsal sepals (upper surface): Medium stripes. Color             of spots, dots, and stripes on the dorsal sepals (upper             surface): RHS N78B. Density of netting of the dorsal sepals             (upper surface): Low. Color of the netting: RHS N78B.         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 45.0 mm to             47.0 mm. Width: 27.0 mm to 29.0 mm. Position of the broadest             part of the lateral sepals: Toward the base. Color (when             fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purplish-pink             (RHS N78C). Over color: Hint of light yellow-green (RHS             145D) with very small dots (RHS 72A) at the base; stripes             (RHS N78B); shaded (RHS N78B). Lower surface: Basic color:             Purplish-pink (RHS N78C). Over color: Reddish-purple shade             (RHS N78B); reddish-purple (RHS N78A) midvein. Number of             spots, dots, and stripes on the lateral sepals (upper             surface): Medium dots and medium stripes. Color of spots,             dots, and stripes on the lateral sepals (upper surface):             Dots (RHS 72A) and stripes (RHS N78B). Density of netting of             the lateral sepals (upper surface): None. Color of the             netting (upper surface): Not applicable.         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 8.0             mm to 10.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Reddish-purple (RHS N78B),             striped (RHS N78B) with white (RHS NN155C) tips. Pubescence             on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type IV (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); weakly             spatulate Margin: Undulated (widely wavy). Length: 22.0 mm             to 24.0 mm. Width: 14.0 mm to 16.0 mm. Color: Upper surface:             Hint of white (RHS NN155A) with purplish-red (RHS 59B)             stripes; purplish-pink (RHS N78C) with reddish-purple (RHS             N78A) stripes toward, the margin. Lower surface: White (RHS             NN155B) on one side at the base; purplish-pink (RHS N78C)             with reddish-purple (RHS N78B) stripes on one side toward             the margin. Number of spots and stripes on the lateral lobe:             Few stripes. Color of spots and stripes on the lateral lobe:             RHS 59B. Density of netting of the lateral lobe: None. Color             of the netting: None.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Rhombic. Margin: Entire. Length: 20.0 mm             to 22.0 mm. Width: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Color: Upper surface:             Reddish-purple (RHS N78B); reddish-purple (RHS N78A) shade,             stripes, and netting toward margins. Lower surface:             Reddish-purple (RHS N78C); purplish-red (RHS 72A) at the             middle from base. Number of spots and stripes on the apical             lobe: Few to medium. Color of spots and stripes on the             apical lobe: RHS N78A. Density of netting of the apical             lobe: Low. Color of the netting: RHS N78A. Bump and ridge             (upper and lower surface): Not present.         -   Callus.—Average size: Medium to large. Height: 8.0 mm to             9.0 mm. Length: 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Width: 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm.             Color: Yellow (RHS 7A), spotted (RHS 59B); reddish-purple             (RHS N78A) front and toward sides. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 5.0 mm to             6.0 mm. Color: Purplish-pink (RHS N78C) at the base with             reddish-purple (RHS N78B) tips.         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 24A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm to 2.8             mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 35.0 mm to 37.0 mm. Diameter: 2.9 mm to             3.2 mm. Color: Hint of yelloW-green (RHS 146C) with             purplish-red (RHS N77B) overcolor at the base; light             yellow-green (RHS 195C) with purplish-pink shade (RHS N78C)             toward the flower. Texture: Smooth. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHA441188’ differs from the female parent plant, cultivar ‘PHALLOEL’ (EU Certificate No. EU21604), in that ‘PHA441188’ has rhombic apical lobes and emarginated dorsal sepal apexes, whereas ‘PHALLOEL’ has ovate apical lobes and obtuse dorsal sepal apexes. Additionally, ‘PHA441188’ has a striped and shaded flower pattern, whereas ‘PHALLOEL’ has a striped flower pattern.

‘PHA441188’ differs from the male parent plant, cultivar ‘40427-04’ (unpatented), in that ‘PHA441188’ has rhombic apical lobes, whereas ‘40427-04’ has triangular apical lobes. ‘PHA441188’ has a dotted callus pattern and striped, shaded flower pattern, whereas ‘40427-04’ has a flecked callus pattern and dotted, flecked, and edged flower pattern.

‘PHA441188’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALFEWYP’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,514) and ‘PHAGUIQDI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,207). ‘PHA441188’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFEWYP’ in that ‘PHA441188’ has rhombic apical lobes and striped pattern of apical lobes, whereas ‘PHALFEWYP’ has triangular apical lobes and an even pattern of apical lobes. Additionally, ‘PHA441188’ has a smaller flower diameter and whiskers that are reddish-purple with white tips, whereas ‘PHALFEWYP’ has whiskers that are purplish-red.

‘PHA441188’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHAGUIQDI’ in that ‘PHA441188’ has weakly spatulated lateral lobes, whereas ‘PHAGUIQDI’ has spatulated lateral lobes. Additionally, ‘PHA441188’ has a wider leaves and shorter whiskers than ‘PHAGUIQDI’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHA441188’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 